The Second Reading of the Sri Lanka Electricity Bill was passed in Parliament a short while ago by a majority of 44 votes.
The bill received 103 votes in favour and 59 against.
A division on the bill was taken at the end of today's debate on the bill. The Supreme Court had earlier said that certain clauses in the bill are in violation of provisions of the Constitution and as such, would require a special 2/3 Parliamentary majority in their current form. However, the Supreme Court had stated that these inconsistencies would cease if the amendments suggested by the Court are adopted.
Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara told Parliament that the government would include the amendments suggested by the Supreme Court so that the bill can be passed by a simple Parliamentary majority.
The Third Reading of the bill was subsequently passed with amendments and without a vote.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told Parliament today that the suspect in the rape of a lady doctor at the Anuradhapura teaching hospital has been identified as an army deserter and he will be apprehended shortly.
Police have arrested the suspect connected to the sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital today morning in Galnewa.
The Dutch Public Prosecutor suspects two companies of paying bribes in the construction of hospitals in Sri Lanka, according to an investigation by FD, the Dutch financial newspaper.
The Government today tabled in the House the Report of the Commission to Inquiry into the Establishment and Maintenance of Unlawful Places of Detention and Torture Chambers in the Batalanda Housing Scheme.
The Minister of Power, Kumara Jayakody, stated that in the future, internationally funded projects, such as power projects, will only be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements and competitive procurement.
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said today he wholly rejects the Batalanda Commission report and that it was appointed wholly with the intention slinging political mud at him.
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